How Media Target Audience

The media then uses codes and conventions that the targeted audience will enjoy to keep them engaged. Media codes are everything.


Demographics
Age, gender, social class, ethnicity/race, income, location, political leanings, star appeal.


Psychographics
Personality, behavior (passive & active), values, interests, and spending habits.


Genre
Categorizing media products is by grouping them together via their shared characteristics. These characteristics in media are known as codes and convictions. They're creating restrictions and developing templates for media producers to follow.


Subgenre
Categorization of media a step further. It goes beyond the generalization of the genre.


Genre Convention
Different elements are commonly found in a particular genre.

Lifestyle magazines often use a gender profile to attract their audience. They may be read by anyone – but they are specifically targeted towards a specific gender profile.

For instance, GQ is a men’s lifestyle magazine which features articles on male fashion, style and culture. Cosmopolitan targets a female demographic with similar content based on female interests.

Although a female reader may buy GQ, the content will be created with the male audience in mind.
Many major magazine publishers produce press packs (A pack containing information, images and other media, created to promote something. May be distributed to media outlets or advertisers. Sometimes called a media kit.) to attract potential advertisers. The press pack will give details on the audience demographics of the magazine and provide the advertisers with information about their target audience.

 

GQ and Men's Vogue appeal to male audiences as stars are always seen wearing fashionable clothing that makes them seem very stylish and good-looking, which may give men ideas on how to improve their wardrobe/look better in general. The colour palette used also appears more monochrome instead of using outlying and bright colours. This fits the Male Genre Convention as men are usually more attracted to simple grey-white-black colours instead of vibrant neons, pinks, yellows, etc.

Vogue and Cosmopolitan appeal to women audiences due to their bright, vibrant colour palettes, for example bright pink, which tends to attract female readers. Using popular stars like kpop idols also boost readership as women may want to see what their favourite singers and actors are wearing to try and copy their wardrobe and dress better.

Camera Angle

Types of camera angle

1. Extreme Wide Shot 

 

A shot in which figures appear small in the landscape. Often used at the beginning of a film or sequence as an ‘establishing shot’ to show where the action is taking place. Can also be used to make a person appear isolated or small.   

2. Wide Shot 

A shot in which a figure can be seen from head to toe. (tighter than an extreme wide shot)

3. Medium Shot

Shows the figure from approximately head to waist. In a mid shot, you can easily recognize an individual but you can also see what they are doing with their hands. 

4. Close Up Shot

Head and shoulders, enabling you to easily see facial expressions, which gives the audience a better impression of what your characters are thinking and feeling

5. Extreme Close Up Shot

From just above the eyebrows to just below the mouth, or even closer: used to emphasize facial expression or to make the subject appear threatening.

6. Over the Shoulder Shot

 

 

A shot in which we see a character or main object over another’s shoulder, often used in interviews or dialogues. Depth of field - This refers to how much of the shot seems to be in focus, in front of and behind the subject.

7. Low Angle Shot

 

The camera points upwards, usually making the subject or setting seem grand or threatening

8. High Angle Shot

The camera looks down, making the subject look vulnerable or insignificant. It can give the audience a motherly feeling toward the character.